Tift County High School students have been given books recently as part of the development of the statewide education program for grades 6 through 12 known as Georgia Teachers As Advisors.

Sophmores at TCHS have been given the book “Start Something: You Can Make A Difference.” Juniors have been given the book “Teenagers Preparing For the Real World.” Seniors have been given “Financial Literary For Teens.”

All of the books are given to the students free-of-charge through a federal grant, said Dr. Willie Miles, principal at TCHS.

Each teacher at the high school has 12 to 15 students assigned for advising. “This is like going back to the old days,” Miles said. “They talk with them about writing resumes, preparing for college, and other topics.” Miles said the program “gives them life skills they will need after high school.”

Miles said two days a week, on Tuesday and Thursday, students have 25 to 30 minutes to meet with their assigned teacher/advisor. This is in addition to their four instructional blocks.

“I’m truly excited about it,” Miles said of the program. “The teachers have embraced this. They know the importance of teaching outside the curriculum.”

Miles said the state requires three things of the Georgia Performance Standards school curriculum:

• “It needs to be rigourous, the students should be challenged.”

• “We need to make sure it is relevant.”

• “We have to make sure it is built on relationships.”

Miles said, “We want to educate the whole child.” He gave an example of a student who graduated from college and was ignorant about financial matters. The life skills taught through the Georgia Teachers As Advisors should prevent such an occurance in the future.

To contact reporter Jana Cone, call 382-4321, ext. 208.